Friday, August 25, 2017

Thanks and a new project......

Hello my friends. Did you have a good week? I want to start off with a special thanks to all of you for you comments of concern about Mr. 20. He is doing much better but is still not at 100%. He left for Orlando on Saturday and told us he did not need our help moving into his apartment. Well by 4:00 he was calling very stressed out that his bedding did not fit. The bedding that fit in the very same apartment complex he was in last year. He went to various stores that did not have sheets and bedding appropriate for the sized bed the complex told him he had. He kept checking in and with every call I realized he was getting more stressed and his stomach was hurting again from all the stress and activity that moving entails. So at 5:30 I jumped in my car, made a Target run for Queen sized bedding and drove the 2 hours and 15 minutes over to get him set up. He was much better after I got there because he was no longer hiking his items up two flights of stairs and had had some time to rest. I set him up and took off. It was a fast 20 minute visit but I needed to get home. Ah, the things you do for your kids. The trip was worth it because he can't afford to miss school with this intestinal issue and frankly I can't afford more hospital stays.

Here are my boys just minutes before Mr. 20 left for school. Can you believe this is the only picture I have of them all together this summer? Little Buddy's face is looking a little wonky but all in all it is a good shot. Little Buddy looks like he could have been born into this family of mine. Funny how often that happens. And frankly he is a pistol just like his oldest brother so I am wondering how he inherited that?

My husband is the main cook in my house. He really enjoys it and frankly I don't. I can make a good turkey spaghetti, or chicken fried rice now and again but that is about it. Little Buddy loves to be in the kitchen helping. His main job is to run the microwave but he wants to do so much more. He is not tall enough to help at the counter and does not have the stability to stand on a chair. My husband heard about this Little Partners learning tower and ordered it right away. Now Little Buddy is happily helping with the cooking duties and he is safe in his little stander.

His first big job was to put sticks of butter in a pot after removing the paper they were in. Success! This stander is adjustable so it can last for a long time. Maybe his future career will be as a chef? Well that or an elevator operator or conductor, he is still obsessed with elevators and trains.

My dear friend Chris whom you have heard me mention many times on this blog sent me this beautiful crochet pattern. It is the Envision Cardigan by Heidi May. I fell in love with it right away, Chris knows my love of crochet and is always spot on with pattern suggestions for me. Once again I have frogged a project that I was making with this beautiful Juniper Moon Moonshine yarn. I think this is now my fourth attempt to make something with this yarn. But I have to say the yarn holds up to frogging and reuse, it is a pleasure to have this yarn working through my fingers. Wish me luck that this time I have an actual finished project to show you with this yarn. Thanks again Chris for thinking of me. You are the very, very best. For all of you non crocheters there is a knitted version of this sweater here.

It was so humid out this morning that my camera fogged up every time I tried to take a photo. Yet this beauty still turned out. I have to say that for the first time in over four months I am actually in my house alone. Yup, it is blissful. There is silence. No one is sleeping, studying, watching TV, working or playing with cars and trucks. I would not want this every moment of my life but I am sure enjoying it for a few hours. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I'm so pleased to hear that Mr 20 is on the mend and back to school, it must have been such a worry for you seeing him so ill, let's hope that's the end of it now. It's a lovely photo of all three boys. I rarely get photos of my two together, mind you, they're rarely together these days, the last time was Christmas. How wonderful for Little Buddy to help out in the kitchen, I'm glad he doesn't have to miss out just because he isn't tall enough, that looks like a great invention. What a lovely cardigan and great that there's a knitted version too.

Aw. First year of college is a huge step and very stressful. You are a marvelous mom for driving all that way with bedding - a good night's sleep is such an important ingredient to success! Hope his tummy settles down now.

Was rather humid here the past couple of days, too. But temperature was back up today, 112 F when I checked this afternoon. That kitchen stand for Little B is just perfect. Hope your middle boy is able to settle in now and stays well. Hugs, Tammy

Look at those handsome fellas!!! I loved this post. My fellas are all at the age where I am the last one they call when they have a problem and I envy you your chaos. And how lucky you are to have a husband that cooks. My boys cook but The Mister does not. I love when they visit and make a mess in the kitchen. Good times!

You're such a good mom to drive so far to help your son settle in.. I'm glad he's close enough for you to do that. So many kids go to college so very far from their parents. I'm glad you got a photo of all three of the boys together and your husband too! I love seeing the family and how the boys grow and change even when they are 20! I'm also glad your son's illness didn't kick back in. Whew! Your new project looks fun.. you're so adventurous in your crochet! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

With Max in the post too, I think this is a first. A post where ALL the men in your life get in the pictures. I LOVE this post. Driving down to help Mr 20 was MOTHER OF THE YEAR stuff!!! I think it was a wise choice. SOmetimes we just have to take care of it. LIL B looks like the big brothers for sure. And cooking ! How wonderful. I can't wait to send him something for that new passion of his!

Love the pictures of all of your "boys," including your husband. That kitchen stand is wonderful. The things it will allow Little Buddy to do! With your husbands teaching I can just see him as a great chef someday! I'm excited to see your new sweater. Sometimes yarn has a mind of it's own and you just have to find the right project. I can only imagine your worry when Mr. 20 left and was so stressed and not feeling well. You're a great Mom and did just the right thing. I'm praying for him and his complete healing. I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoyed your moments of peace to the fullest.Blessings,Betsy

I am still "on the road" but typing to you from a motel near the Columbia river. So glad to know Mr. 20 is doing better and that you were able to help him get settled. You are a wonder! The LP tower is such a clever contraption...a great launching platform for your budding chef! I too enjoyed seeing all your Menfolk. May you have much peace and renewal as you stitch Envision this weekend! xx :)

Yes, five hours of driving is worth the twenty minutes of time to make sure our children are good. Every. single. time. Such good photos of all your men!! =) I'll be hoping your beautiful yarn has found its pattern! ;) blessings ~ tanna

Great to see all your family in this post! I love LB new cooking platform. What fun with his dad!! Someone was really thinking great things when they designed that I hope the pattern works out well. It's hard to think of projects when you live in such a hot humid climate- most of the year . We sure do a lot for our kids still and they are both in their thirties now. But that's just what you do, lol!!!

A cooking husband....how nice would that be! LOL! Looks like Little B is heading in that direction too. He sure does look like he was born into your family! Very handsome boys!! I love that cardigan. I just put the knitting version in my wish list.

So pleased to hear your son is on the mend. What a wonderful photo of your three sons - picture perfect. The standing tower is a great piece of kit and I'm sure Little Buddy will spend many happy hours cooking and learning lots of culinary skills with his father. Enjoy the peace and happy crocheting.

Wonderful job Mom! Stress is hard on the stomach as I am currently learning. He is so very lucky t have you as a Mom - you tell him I said that! That learning tower is absolutely brilliant. It's so wonderful that he can now be in the kitchen.Have a wonderful week,Andrea

I'm glad Mr 20 has now settled in to his apt and you did well giving him help. Hope he continues to get better. Intestinal issues are NO fun! Yep..mom's do that. I remember loading our car when M went to college. Son went with us to get every thing in. I am glad Buddy likes to help dad cook and he's cute with the big boys! Have a good weekend, Mere!!

What a great step (!) for Buddy, I am sure that he and his Dad will get lots of use out of it in the kitchen. That would be great for any child wouldn't it. Hope that Mr 20 is more improved now and now that he is back at college his stresses will ease. Keep taking care of yourselves. xx

I don't think it matters how old our children get....we will always help them. I really think we like doing that anyway. lol I'm glad Mr. 20 is getting better. I love all the photos you share and how little Buddy is growing fast!!! Beautiful crochet pattern. Have a fantastic week. xx

Great photo of your boys together,and I love that LB is helping with the cooking, his stander thingy is fab.Can't believe you are starting over AGAIN with that yarn, I'm pretty sure I remember the last time!Ive been AWOL but its good to be back, I have missed you my friend Jillxxx

I am so glad that 2o is feeling better and I'm so glad you hauled all the way there and back for 20 mins for everyone's benefit. Yeah it seems crazy, but I get it. Now, back to everyone's regularly scheduled programs ...

geez mom. that stressed me out!

I love so much that Little Buddy loves the kitchen so much and that he wants to be active in it and your husband is able to accommodate him in patience. I worry that H doesn't like participating with us sometimes because we are always under the gun and he'd rather just stay clear. I notice that he will cook w/his Dad when there is time. He likes it in the kitchen just not Mom's stressed out one.

I bake more, Husband cooks more. I can but I don't enjoy it like he does.

I've not had much opportunity to read blogs recently, but after reading this post, I read the earlier one about your son's hospital stay. I hope he continues to mend. Solitude, for mothers, is a rare and precious thing. I hope you enjoyed each moment.

You have a beautiful family, Meredith. I can totally understand the bliss to have silence but also agree with you, we wouldn't want it like that all the time. We seem to be similar in the way we love being there for our families and having family activity around us but we also succumb to overdoing things when unforeseen demands put the pressure on.

I'm so pleased to see you with crochet hook in hand. You totally deserve some relaxation time. You certainly earned it, super mum!

I need to do the same - to start something new. You gave your yarn a good review. I am going to find out more about it because anything that can stand up to multiple uses (i.e. frogging) is handy to me!

I will be thinking of you all in the coming week with crazy weather in your region. Take special care and know you are in our hearts and minds around the blogging world. xxx